Does God Really Care About Me?
There was a workman, and one day, this workman was leaving the factory, pushing a wheelbarrow through the gate to head home. Inside the wheelbarrow was a small box.
The security guard stopped the man and said, “What have you got in your wheelbarrow?”
“I’ve got a small box,” he said.
“I know you’ve got a small box,” the guard said. “What’s in the box?”
The worker replied, “The sawdust from the floor. At the end of the day, it gets swept up and is thrown away. I needed some, so I put it in the box, and I’m taking it home.”
The guard looked inside the box and sure enough it was filled with sawdust. He sent the worker on his way.
The next day, the same thing happened. The third day, same thing. And the fourth day.
On the fifth day, the worker again came through with a wheelbarrow and a box of sawdust. This time the security guard said, “It’s you again with your wheelbarrow and your sawdust. I’ve got a feeling that you’re up to something. I think you’re actually stealing something. Look, why don’t you tell me what you’re stealing, and I promise I won’t report you.”
The worker said, “All right. I’m stealing wheelbarrows.”
Just like the security guard who noticed the small box of sawdust that he never noticed the wheelbarrow carrying it, we can be so distracted by the little things that we miss the bigger picture.
We wonder if God cares about us when we experience trials, issues at work, or health problems. Is God even listening to my prayers? Doesn't God have bigger things to worry about? Why bother with me? Am I forgotten? Are my prayers falling on deaf ears?
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
According to this Scripture, God has already prepared good works for us in advance. Regardless of where we find ourselves or what issues we face, God has already gone before us and prepared the way for us. He sent His beloved son to pay the price in advance for everything we could ever need.
A difficult time is just one small piece of God's big plan for us; without it, we would not be complete. All the pieces - good and bad, easy and difficult - shape and guide us on our uniquely individual paths. It may be uncomfortable for a while. There may be some unwelcome storms ahead. However, those times of difficulty are never wasted. We learn through times of uncertainty. We are strengthened and fortified in our faith. God teaches us to relinquish control and let Him lead us. He has a bird's eye view.
From start to finish, from beginning to end, and every single second in between, He is able to see our entire timeline. He sees the big picture at once. We see only the one tiny piece we seem to be stuck on right now. He sees exactly where that piece belongs.
If we knew what God knows, we would never change a thing. Our eyes would be opened to the magnitude of impossibilities we could never overcome without God leading the way. Keep your focus on your life's events. Consider God's plan for your life from a big-picture perspective. Why would He abandon you now if He was there for you before?
Lord,
I thank you that you care about everything. Much like you care about the birds and their safety, you are attentive to me. I thank you for loving me. Father, help me to remember that I must never allow fear of the world around me to overtake me. Teach me to keep my faith in you when difficult times come. Thank you for being my mighty God and my comforter. You are my greatest reward.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.